Why did japanese soldiers kill so many civilians in nanking, china?
commanders encouraged their soldiers to be as brutal as possible.
civilians attacked the soldiers first, and then the soldiers retaliated.
soldiers were inexperienced at fighting and panicked under pressure.
chinese forces were closing in, so the soldiers took desperate measures.

The correct answer is A. Commanders encouraged their soldiers to be as brutal as possible.

The massacre of Nanking was a series of crimes against humanity committed by the Japanese army while they were occupying the city of Nanking and its surroundings in 1937. These crimes involved killings of civilians and prisoners, torture, violations, plunder, and other several atrocities. According to different estimates, the number of dead civilians rises above 300 000. This brutality was a direct result of the orders of the Japanese commanders: prince Asaka and general Matsui, among other Japanese military leaders.

he didn't think it was ethically wrong. he thought it was not going to work and it was not going to be of any assistance. he wrote about that in his memoirs.

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